City Corner: Bootfest lineup, fireworks, parking discussed

By Jennifer Sourdellia
Sept. 30, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

There has been a lot of information in the news about this year's Bootfest headliners Stoney LaRue and Easton Corbin but what can you tell me about the other entertainers scheduled to play during Bootfest on Friday and Saturday?

The Guadalupe Surfers and the Scott Taylor Band will "kick off" the Bootfest music on the Shiner Bock Stage 2 at 5 p.m. Friday. Playing on the Coors Light Main Stage on Friday night will be No Justice followed by the Friday headliner Stoney LaRue. Saturday will feature area and regional bands including Crossroads, Whiskey Sin, Trevor Cole Band, Andrea Maria and the Magnolia Band, Dr. Yahagi and the Mended Hearts and Clay Crockett and the Shotgun Riders. On the main stage Saturday evening, Black Dutch Sioux and Bart Crow will be the opening acts before Easton Corbin hits the stage. All the concerts are free. For a full lineup, visit Bootfest.org.

Will the fireworks being launched from One O'Connor Plaza during Bootfest on Saturday evening cause any safety issues for homes and businesses in the downtown area?

Bootfest will conclude with a bang Saturday evening with a spectacular pyrotechnic fireworks display launched from the top of One O'Connor Plaza. The fireworks show is sponsored by Klean Corp. International and Robby and Tami Burge, with a special thanks to One O'Connor Plaza for providing the building's rooftop as a launch pad for the fireworks show.

The fireworks spectacular is planned with safety in mind. ProFx Inc. is back again to coordinate the fireworks show and the types of fireworks being used this year were used last year.

All pyrotechnics being used are specially-designed for close proximity effects and the fallout is much safer. The fallout will consist of paper pieces, paper/cardboard caps 2 inches or smaller in diameter and some cardboard cylinders. The fallout from the fireworks has no environmental impact and does not contain hazardous chemicals. The crew that will be on site is state licensed in pyrotechnics and highly qualified with more than 95 years combined experience.

The Victoria Fire and Police Departments will also be on site to provide additional safety and security. ProFx Inc. has coordinated hundreds and hundreds of shows over the past 20 years without any incidents, and is the first pyrotechnic company to ever receive a Citation of Merit Award from the City of Houston for safety and precision in the pyrotechnic industry.

For more questions, concerns or more information about Bootfest, please call 361-485-3116.

How will downtown businesses be affected by the street closures during Bootfest this weekend? Where can those planning to attend the festival park?

Several streets in downtown Victoria will be closed for the second annual Bootfest in downtown Victoria on Friday and Saturday. A number of streets in downtown Victoria will be blocked beginning at 10 p.m. Thursday in preparation for the festival. City crews will place barricades at the following streets:

• Main Street from Goodwin to Santa Rosa. The parking garage entrance will remain open and left (east) turn-only permitted onto Goodwin.

• Bridge Street from Goodwin to Santa Rosa.

• Glass Street from Goodwin to Constitution.

• Goodwin from Glass to Liberty.

• Forrest Street from Moody to Liberty.

• Constitution from Moody to Liberty.

The streets will remain blocked throughout Friday and Saturday. Any downtown business expecting scheduled deliveries on Thursday or Friday should contact the City of Victoria Communications Office at 485-3110 no later than Wednesday to ensure that deliveries can be planned for and accommodated during this period.

People who work at downtown businesses are asked to park outside of the barricaded areas immediately before and during Bootfest (Friday and Saturday). Employees who work at One O'Connor Plaza and at First Victoria Bank will be able to park as usual in the parking garages. Downtown businesses will have limited accessibility via side streets surrounding the blocked areas.

Parking will be limited in the vicinity of the festival. But don't worry, you can get to Bootfest by catching a ride on one of the two shuttle buses that will be transporting attendees continuously, and free of charge, on Saturday from 9:45 a.m. to midnight. You can park and ride from two locations: the Dr. Pattie Dodson Public Health Center parking lot, 2805 N. Navarro St., or at the Children's Park at Riverside Park near the Rose Garden on McCright Drive.

Do you have a question about the city of Victoria? Please submit your questions and comments about any city department to Jennifer Sourdellia in the Communications/Public Information Office by emailing jsourdellia@victoriatx.org or mail to P.O. Box 1758, Victoria, TX 77902.